Chocolate Monsters Are Coming Stemonitis fusca

e6filmuser

These fruiting bodies are of a Slime Mould which inhabits dead wood. These masses of individuals were about finger nail size, larger than most,

The background in the third image is the inside of my camera bag.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stemonitis

We found them two days ago, on the floor of mixed deciduous woodland.

EM-1, Kiron 105 macro, twin TTL flash, hand-held.

The stereo is cross-eye. It is not the most effective 3D but worthwhile.

Harold

Lord Vetinari

Fascinating stuff Harold
Brian V.

e6filmuser

Lord Vetinari wrote: »

Fascinating stuff Harold
Brian V.

Thanks, Brian.

There are some insect goodies to come from this foray.

Harold

e6filmuser

Mike Harrison, of Thames Valley Fungus Group, has checked the spores and found them to be the wrong shape for S. fusca and correct for S. axifera.

Harold

Stumblebum

Interesting find!

e6filmuser

Stumblebum wrote: »

Interesting find!

Thanks.

I can't take any credit for that find but I intend to revisit the wood tomorrow.

Harold

Cavalier

As a dedicated chocoholic, I am with your find! Who knew mold could be so appetizing! Great shots.

e6filmuser

Cavalier wrote: »

As a dedicated chocoholic, I am with your find! Who knew mold could be so appetizing! Great shots.

Thanks, Jo.

In processing, I may have made it a little lighter than it is in life. It was a dull day and everything looked rather dark through the lens under the trees. There was also a problem with TTL flash exposures at times. However, the name "chocolate" is associated with this genus.

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7514042

Some additional tasty associations:

http://www.pbase.com/diggitydogs/fungi_slime_moulds_jellies_and_crusts

I prefer dark chocolate myself.

Harold